Frederick Burger's Interview Notes

Typed notes kept by researcher Frederick Burger the same day he recorded his taped interview with Dr. Rodgers. They record family and military details — including the 1878 marriage of Dr. Rodgers's grandfather Alexander Joseph Rodgers to Amanda Bugg — and a research to-do list Burger compiled afterward, some items of which remain open questions on this site today.

Full text transcription

acecartr/blacks/rodgers

Wed. 17 April 2002 - interview notes; see taped interview

Re: Black life in Anniston/Calhoun County

Dr. Gordon A. Rodgers Jr.
retired Anniston dentist
H: [phone number omitted]
1001 Claxton, Anniston
(daughter: Dr. Beverly Rodgers, also dentist; he lives with her; [birth year omitted for privacy])
DOB: 28 Oct. 1915, Anniston
(he was 86 on date of this interview; forgetful)

(his father was also doctor; was grad from Mahary College (sp?) in Nashville, Tenn.)

grad from Mahary (sp?) in 1937

he said his wife died: 1993

his grandfather:
Alex J. Rodgers
(some records show his name as Alec; he went by name Alexander Joseph Rodgers)
grandfather married Amanda Bugg 17 Jan. 1878; he had marriage certificate and some Census records of his family

(in his youth there was a black public school at 17th Street/Pine Ave. in Anniston. his mother didn't think it very good and didn't let him go there.)

(his mother grad from Talladega High, apptly connected with Talladega College, in 1912)

(his sister's son went to UAB medical school; ran University Hospital emergency room for a yr; name is Frederick Random)

(Rodgers grew up at 1618 Cooper)

June 1937: he grad from Talladega College

1941: grad from dentistry school at Mahary College (sp?) in Nashville, was soon commissioned in Army; thinks he was at Ft. McClellan a while, then Fort Hood, Texas.

Buffalo Division: black division in Army he was member of; was infantry unit; part of 92nd Division

Dr. Rodgers' Military serial number: 0-477611 DC USAR (Army Reserve)

TAPE 1 - Side B

his father had New Era Pharmacy at 16th St. and Brown, while he practiced medicine, his father also rented out several houses.

Anniston Observer, black newspaper in Anniston; owned by Thomas Jackson, an NAACP activist; he also owned drygoods company; he was forced out of business when bankers wouldn't loan him money, apparently because of his pro-integration activities.

Dr. John C. White, local black dentist

Walter White: exec dir of NAACP; came to Anniston 4-5 years before he died (in 1956) and gave a speech.

“There was some hope (for blacks after the war)”

black vets had voter registration campaigns

Rodgers said he did NOT run for county commission in 1950s (as some say he did), but his memory may be bad

LOOK UP:
1) Anniston Star, Today In History, Wed. 21 Oct 1998, P.7E, reference to Rodgers running for public safety commissioner in 1962.
2) Star, Today In History, 25 yrs ago, Sat. 5 Sept. 1998. Rodgers reference.
3) brother's obit: Star, P. 4A, Thurs. 23 Dec. 1999
4) obit of wife Fannie Lewis Rodgers; died sometime just before 21 Nov. 1970 (he had funeral program dated 11/21/70); service was held at the First United Presbyterian Church.

Frederick Burger Research Collection, Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County. Includes interview notes and newspaper clippings. View the original at Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County.